Effect of nano-crystallization on the plasticity in Cu–Zr amorphous binary alloys

Two types of stress–strain behaviors were observed during tensile deformation of Cu–Zr amorphous ribbons at room temperature and at strain rates varying between 10−3 s−1 and 10−5 s−1. Experimental observations carried out using HRTEM and XRD on the extent of nano-crystallization during the deformation revealed that the extent of nano-crystallization determines the nature of stress–strain behavior. Molecular dynamics simulations (MD) were carried out to support the inference.